The State to Require Load Calculations

The North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors has announced that the State of North Carolina is requiring Load Calculations to be preformed.

The new rules state that every newly installed residential heating and air conditioning system or both shall be designed and installed to maintain a maximum temperature differential of 4 degrees Fahrenheit room-room and floor-to-floor.

The new rules also state that all licensed HVAC contractors are required to perform a thorough room-by-room load calculation for all new residential structures prior to installing heating systems, air conditioning systems or both. A written record of the system and the equipment sizing information shall be provided to the owner or general contractor upon request.

The new rules also state that when either a furnace, condenser or air handler in an existing residential heating or air conditioning system is replaced, the licensed HVAC contractor is required to perform a minimum of a whole house block load.

The new rules became effective January 1, 2010.

Changes made to section .0505

21 NCAC 50 .0505 GENERAL SUPERVISION AND STANDARD OF COMPETENCE

(d) Every newly installed residential heating system, air conditioning system or both shall be designed and installed to maintain a maximum temperature differential of 4degrees Fahrenheit room-to-room and floor-to-floor. On multilevel structures,contractors are required to either provide a separate HVAC system for each floor or to install automatically controlled zoning equipment for each level with individual thermostats on each level to control the temperature for that level. The seasonal adjustment needed to maintain the 4 degree Fahrenheit room-to-room and floor-to-floor maximum temperature differential shall not be accomplished through the use of manual dampers.

(e) All licensed HVAC contractors are required to perform a thorough room-by-room load calculation for all new residential structures prior to installing heating systems, air conditioning systems, or both which calculations shall be specific to the location and orientation where the HVAC system or equipment is to be installed. A written record of the system and equipment sizing information shall be provided to the owner or general contractor upon request and a copy shall be maintained in the job file of the licensee for a minimum of six (6) years.

(f) When either a furnace. condenser or air handler in an existing residential heating or air conditioning system is replaced, the licensed HVAC contractor is required to perform a minimum of a whole house block load calculation. When a furnace, condenser or air handler in a residential heating or air conditioning system is replaced, it is the responsibility of the licensee to ensure that all systems and equipment are properly sized. The licensee may utilize industry standards, reference materials, evaluation of the structure, and load calculations. A written record of the system and equipment sizing information shall be provided to the homeowner, owner or general contractor upon request and a copy shall be maintained in the job file of the licensee for a minimum of six (6) years. If a load calculation was not performed or if a load calculation was performed and it is later determined by the Board that the unit installed was undersized or oversized, the installation will be considered as evidence of incompetence.

Triad One Login

Login to download schedules, register for classes and order books. If you do not have an account register now.